​Apple leaks the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3

Apple accidentally revealed its new line of iPads in the iTunes Store.
Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET

In an unusual blunder, Apple accidentally posted screenshots of its upcoming iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 in the iTunes Store on Wednesday. The company is expected to unveil these two new devices during a press event on Thursday.

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Images of the new iPad Air
and iPad Mini
were revealed in an official user guide to Apple's iOS 8 operating system for iBooks in the iTunes Store. As of this writing the images are still public. The user guide shows images of both devices with a new addition of the Touch ID fingerprint scanner. The leak also reveals that Burst Mode, which lets users take "rapid-fire" photos, will be available for the iPad Air 2. Besides these new features, the iPads appear to be similar to their previous editions.

Apple likely hopes its new lineup of iPads will give the company's tablet offerings a boost. Sales of the iPad have slowed as consumers have increasingly turned to smartphones. While the iPad remains a top seller in the tablet market, it hasn't radically changed since the first model in 2010. Unlike smartphones, which get replaced every two years or less, consumers are happy holding on to their iPads for much longer.

Besides the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3, Apple is expected to announce new Macs and further details on its OS X Yosemite operating system at the event in Cupertino, Calif., on Thursday. Last month, during another event, the company debuted two larger iPhones and gave users a glimpse of its first wearable, the Apple Watch.